The Proposal [18+]

Prologue - Watchful Eyes

    Every year at the start of a new semester, university would have a fair at the campus. Many rich and influential people would attend this fair. After all, a future is fickle, and some of these fresh university students may prove to be more capable than what it would seem at the first glance. They may prove to be competition, or rivals. If so, it would be much safer if only they could rope them in, before they become a threat to their businesses.

Just as it would happen, a certain couple attended this year's fair. A very rich, very powerful couple. In fact, most of the students who had even a shred of ambition already knew who they were. Even though the man was more known in this world, everyone who had a clue knew that the woman was no joke, either.

All in all, she might prove to be more dangerous.

The couple happened to be very young and the man was as equally handsome as the woman was beautiful. Even in late thirties she looked as though she was nineteen years old. She was tall, curvy and blonde with long wavy hair. She had the deepest emerald-green eyes anyone has ever seen. Her posture was of someone used to commanding others, used to being obeyed. Confidence literally oozed from her. Anyone seeing her could easily mistake her as royalty, but that mistake could easily be forgiven. No one could, looking at her, guess that she was born in a small village without proper electricity or plumbing. But that was what made her strong. People underestimated her often, for she was a woman in a men's world.

Holding her hand was man not as equally tall as her but much, much taller. Even the woman looked tiny and innocent next to him. He had hair as black as midnight, blue eyes cold as ice and was built the way anyone within a hundred miles would envy him. The man had a strong, chiseled jaw, clean-shaven and so sharp you could cut yourself just by looking at him. He was smiling to the woman he was holding like he was seeing the light for the first time. It was obvious how much he loved her; it was in every move and every gesture he made towards her. And he was strong, strong enough to protect her. Strong enough to give her the world on the palm of his hand.

They were walking on the campus grounds, heading towards the small coffee shop, a place where all students began their day, rushing to their lectures. They were aware of all the eyes on them, aware of all the probing looks, trying to get a read on them. They didn't care about what they might show. After all, they were used to it.

All the while, the man was maintaining a light conversation with the woman. It was fascinating to see how focused on her he was. Many thought that no matter how pretty his wife was, he would eventually get bored of her and get a mistress. How wrong they were.

Her beauty was but a grain of sand of the beach of reasons why he loved her. No matter how much time they spent together, it would never be enough for him. He was eager to get back home after work every day, because he knew that he could complain about his colleagues to his heart's content and she would find a sharp and witty comment to render him speechless, or get him to tears with laughter. He could never get enough of her.

The woman stopped for a moment, and then she threw back her head and laughed at something he said. Her melodic laugh made every man around them turn and look at her. They were enchanted by her. The man's smile just grew wider at this. He was used to it. Not many could capture her attention long enough and hold it. Many have tried over the years, tried and failed. He did something more than that, he married her. A heroic feat, if you knew just how hard-headed the woman was as a young girl.

And convincing her wasn't easy either... he thought, wistfully remembering how flustered he was, the night he was planning to propose. After all, she would never accept an ordinary proposal. And finding something unique and suitable for her was a task that almost left him bald. Thankfully, that hadn't happened. He knew she wouldn't abandon him for something as fickle as that. However, he knew full well just home much she loved that hair of his. After all, she spent many nights tugging at it....